Star Peterborough United striker is learning from the best
Peterborough United’s star striker Harry Leonard believes he has the perfect tutor in Craig Mackail-Smith.
Mackail-Smith scored 104 goals in his three spells at Posh and he’s been working with the club’s strikers this season, firstly on a freelance basis and now as a permanent member of staff under new boss Robbie Savage.
Leonard scored his ninth goal of the season in the 4-1 League One defeat at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night. He has scored four in Carabao Cup ties – the most by any player so far – three in League One and two in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy.
The 23 year-old scored 16 League One goals last term despite a slow start to his first season at the club.
"Craig is the perfect person for me to learn from,” Leonard told the Posh Plus service. “He had a brilliant career and he scored loads of goals at the level for this club so hopefully he can get me firing in the league games.
"Drills for repetition are important, but it’s also the conversations we have that are helpful. We talk about what I did well and what I can do better and I enjoy then as Craig is also a really good guy.
"I didn’t score my first goal until November 1 last season so it's been a positive start for me on the scoring front for me this time and I need to keep it going.
"I didn’t actually get a lot of touches at Huddersfield as I spent most of my time battling to win first contacts so when I got the chance to shoot I took it.
"We had moments when we caused them problems and we were on top when I scored, but the early goal we conceded knocked us back and their third goal took the sting out of the game. There wasn’t a lot it the game as they were content to sit in and make it difficult for us, but they were clinical even if the scoreline didn’t reflect the game as a whole.
“We will dust ourselves down and go again though. We are at our best when we start games quickly and implement our style of play on the game. We can beat the best teams on our day, but we need to find that level more often.”
Posh have a big game on Saturday when travelling to fellow League One strugglers Bromley. Both sides are in the relegation zone.
Other League One matches: AFC Wimbledon v Wycombe, Blackpool v Mansfield, Burton v Orient, Cambridge v Plymouth, Doncaster v Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield v Wigan, Luton v Leicester, Notts County v Stockport, Oxford v Bradford City, Reading v Barnsley, Stevenage v MK Dons.